Invitation

Between the Allegheny Mountains and the Appalachian Plateau lies a little community. The land has held generations of farmers and attracted people searching for a life closer to nature. The closest neighbors aren’t likely within shouting distance, yet the community ties are strong. People come together for apple cider pressing, sledding parties, bonfires, and potlucks filled with local harvests. In the heart of this “neighborhood” lies 500 acres of wilderness with five ponds, trails, and a small lodge. Here, where birdsong is stronger than cell phone signals, is a place to reconnect with the essential things that sustain us as humans.

The Yew Mountain Center is the product of a community effort to preserve the natural beauty of this property and serve a greater good with the power of education and rejuvenation. We came together over a shared belief that our ways of life in these mountains are valuable. From wisdom passed through the generations about farming, food preservation, midwifery, and craftsmanship to modern ideas that help us live so remotely and sustainably, we aim to share the best of this emerging Appalachian culture with a larger audience. We believe in the power of this place and its people. We are motivated to raise the quality of life for families in these mountains—mountains who have given the country so much of its energy, its building materials, its clean water—mountains where over half the families live below the poverty level despite the wealth extracted from them.

We believe in the power of education. We want more ways to connect our children to a culture of learning and tap into their natural sense of curiosity and wonder in the wild outdoors. We want our rural communities to be places known for their good nutrition and good health. We think our children can lead the way to a future where prosperity and sustainability coexist to create beautifully rich places to live.

We believe in the power of a place-based economy. Ours is a community with a rich background in the arts, craftsmanship, ecological practices, sustainable agriculture and community service. We have all the pieces to create a thriving local economy in this remote and beautiful place.We are excited to meet others to enjoy walking, biking, or skiing miles of trails in solitude or with a few of us. We are excited to learn more from scholars, old-timers, and other enthusiasts about the medicine, the art, and the intricate patterns underlying this wild ecology.

We are creating the Yew Mountain Center to share this vision with others. Perhaps we are creating the Yew Mountain Center for you?